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Turkey Season!

Is starting soon. Anyone goin to talk with tom in the turkey woods? Where are you hunting? Is there any good public land near ames? Id like to get out a few times before class, because otherwise I have to wait until the first week of summer, which is 5th season in IL, and there wont be much that isnt spooked plus most will be done mating.

Re: Turkey Season!

Originally Posted by illinoiscyclone

Is starting soon. Anyone goin to talk with tom in the turkey woods? Where are you hunting? Is there any good public land near ames? Id like to get out a few times before class, because otherwise I have to wait until the first week of summer, which is 5th season in IL, and there wont be much that isnt spooked plus most will be done mating.

I have heard good things about the public land near big creek... Haven't decided if I am going out this year, have alot going on...

Re: Turkey Season!

Look forward to it every year. Usually hunt the 2nd season, but will also be helping my daughter during the youth season on the 10th. I have been encouraged by the numbers of birds I have been seeing while out driving around, hopefully translates to a good season. Good luck.....

Re: Turkey Season!

I'll be out...we have a few places down south of Albia we hit that have always been good. I love Turkey hunting....easily my favorite thing to hunt. I think I have more fun duck/goose hunting but its a lot more fun to bring in that big Tom. What kind of a decoy setup does everyone use? Years ago we used to just use a hen but now we use a two hens and a jake. Stick the one hen right on the ground, another on the perimeter and then stick that jake right up behind that hen on the ground and sometime those Toms will be so fit with rage a jake is getting some action they will come charging in and not pay attention to much

Re: Turkey Season!

IllinoisCyclone, are you an Iowa resident? Do you have to mail in for a tag, or can you purchase it at the usual outlets?

I've heard some people do alright around the Chicaqua (sp?) public land up by Bondurant.

You public land hunters be safe. I'm glad we got private land. Turkey is one season where I really want to know who's around me.

As for the first question, I am in the process of trying to figure that out. The rules say that if you are a full time student who attends an Iowa university and lives in the state, you are allowed to buy in-state tags. So I think so.

As for the public land, I am still debating about that. My dad has been shot at in public land before by some pollack who didnt speak english, so that is discouraging. I have a couple of buddies who'll take me out hunting in Denison, but I'd like to go before class. I also have private land on an outfitter in central illinois (well over 1300 acres which is what we can deer hunt), which is about as prime as it gets, but the wait is killing me.

Originally Posted by maintain242001

I'll be out...we have a few places down south of Albia we hit that have always been good. I love Turkey hunting....easily my favorite thing to hunt. I think I have more fun duck/goose hunting but its a lot more fun to bring in that big Tom. What kind of a decoy setup does everyone use? Years ago we used to just use a hen but now we use a two hens and a jake. Stick the one hen right on the ground, another on the perimeter and then stick that jake right up behind that hen on the ground and sometime those Toms will be so fit with rage a jake is getting some action they will come charging in and not pay attention to much

I have what is called a breeding jake which sits upon just any ol hen. we then usually use another 2 hens pretty similarly as you do. I have a problem where I usually set them too close to me, but I always try to keep them all within 40 yds and within about 45 degrees of each other, straight out from me.

I have some other questions about tags. Are tags only good for one county? Are they good for only one season? Where can you get them? What do you need to buy them, just a license?

Re: Turkey Season!

Re: Turkey Season!

Originally Posted by maintain242001

I'll be out...we have a few places down south of Albia we hit that have always been good. I love Turkey hunting....easily my favorite thing to hunt. I think I have more fun duck/goose hunting but its a lot more fun to bring in that big Tom. What kind of a decoy setup does everyone use? Years ago we used to just use a hen but now we use a two hens and a jake. Stick the one hen right on the ground, another on the perimeter and then stick that jake right up behind that hen on the ground and sometime those Toms will be so fit with rage a jake is getting some action they will come charging in and not pay attention to much

Not sure I've ever bagged a bird with a decoy out.

The area I like going to is pretty small, hilly and the cover heavy even in April. So they don't really do much good anyway.

Last years' bird pretty much came out of the roost right on top of me in a tiny clearing. Took me longer to get to and from the woods than it did to bag him.

The year before he was gobbling while strutting with some hens in a nearby field. Took me forever to sneak in close enough and take a shot - but probably the best hunt I've ever had.

Seems like the birds where we go roost with or near hens anyway, so I'm kinda screwed at dawn most of the time. Probably 75% of birds I've got have been after 8:00 while walking about and calling.

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